Portable shelf



June 12, 1951 H. H'UDS-ON' 2,556,922

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Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE SHELF Henry Hudson, Cambridge, Mass. Application December 30, 1947, Serial No. 794,635

1 This invention relates to a portable shelf, particularly for use in the household pantry and kitchen, to hold dishes, small boxes and cans of various products, and the like, to increase the cabinet and shelf space usually available therein.

In the usual small home and apartment, cabinet and shelf space in the pantry and kitchen is usually scarce and overcrowded, and yet with much of the available space wasted or not uti- Only the floor of a shelf is normally used, with much waste space above it, and if cups are suspended from hooks from the bottom of a shelf above, the handles are in danger of being broken off.

I have accordingly devised a portable shelf, to

' frame and having side flanges locking the legs and frame, and lugs or slots on the plate for adjusting the height of the legs. A second narrower shelf may be provided to be mounted on Claims. (Cl. 211149) the first, and having heels on the legs engaging in slots provided in the flat plate of the first shelf for fixedly supporting the second shelf.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the 'purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device, with portions broken away;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view showing the parts in folded or collapsed form. I

In the drawings [0 represents the supporting frame having two spaced pairs of vertically extending crossing legs l0 pivoted at their point of intersection l intermediate their ends. In horizontal extension of the vertical legs [0 and connecting the two pairs of said legs are parallel side members 12. Mounted on said side members I2 is a flat rectangular plate [5 conforming in outline to the shape of the supporting frame on which it is to be mounted and having side flanges l6 which extend downwardly over the side members l2 of the supporting frame, thereby holding said frame against collapse. To adjust the height of the first shelf two pairs of tabs I8 are preferably punched out of plate I5, to extend downwardly, parallel to the side flanges l6 of the plate l5, in effect providing additional supporting side flanges. Additional downwardly extending end flanges I1 are also preferably provided on plate [5 to provide additional strength and. support against buckling of the plate [5, under the weight of any dishes or articles which may be carried on said plate 15, particularly if lighter metals are used.

A second narrower shelf 20 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, may also be provided, to be mounted on the first shelf, substantially similar to the first shelf. The crossing legs 2| of the second shelf are pivoted at their points of intersection 22 and are provided with heels l3 which engage in complementary slots 21 provided in the lower plate 15, at the ends thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Parallel side members 23 connect both pairs of legs 2|. Downwardly extending side and end flanges 24 are also provided on the shelf 20.

In Fig. 3 I have shown my portable shelf in collapsed and shipping condition and in the form in which it is packaged. It will be noted that the legs of both shelves fold up substantially fiatwise and the shelves are placed on top of the legs in assembled and mounted on the first shelf by inserting the heels l3 in the corresponding slots 21 provided at the ends in plate I 5. It will thus be seen that I have provided simple and inexpensive auxiliary shelf equipment which is readily portable, and which provides additional and desirable shelf space out of space now ordinarily not used in the usual pantry or kitchen. In

addition my device readily folds into a small package for transportation or storage.

I claim:

1. A portable shelf, including in combination a longitudinally extending supporting frame having a pair of folding legs at the ends thereof pivoted at their points of intersection, a separate flat plate mounted on said frame and having downwardly extending flanged sides for engaging said frame and locking the legs in position.

2. A portable shelf, including in combination a longitudinally extending supporting frame having a pair of folding legs at the ends thereof pivoted at their points of intersection, a separate flat plate mounted on said frame and having downwardly extending flanged sides for engaging said frame and locking the legs in position, a second frame having a pair of folding legs at the ends thereof and pivoted at their points of intersection, a flat plate mounted on said second frame and having flanged sides extending over said second frame, the legs of said second frame having heels for engaging in complementary slots provided on said first plate for fixedly supporting said second frame on the plate of the first frame.

3. A portable shelf including in combination a flat plate having downwardly extending flanges at its sides and ends, a separate support for said plate comprising two pairs of crossing and folding legs, pivoted at their points of intersection and with the tops of legs of one pair connected to the corresponding tops of the legs of another pair by side members, said side members being engaged by the side flanges on said plate and locked in position thereby.

4. A portable shelf including in combination a flat plate having downwardly extending flanges at its sides, a separate support for said plate comprising two pairs of crossing and folding legs pivoted at their points of intersection and with the tops of the legs of one pair connected to the corresponding tops of the legs of the second pair by side members, said support being engaged by the flanges on said plate and locked in position thereby, a second flat plate having downwardly extending flanges at its sides and a second separate support for said second plate having two pairs of crossing and folding legs pivoted at their points of intersection and with the tops of the legs of one pair connected to the corresponding tops of the legs of the second pair by side members, the legs of said sec ond support having heels for engaging in complementary slots provided on said first plate for fixedly supporting said second support on the first plate.

5 A portable shelf including in combination a flat plate having downwardly extending flanges at its sides and ends, a separate support for said plate comprising two pairs of crossing and folding legs, pivoted at their points of intersection and with the tops of the legs of one pair connected to the corresponding tops of the legs of the second pair by side members, said side members being engaged by the side flanges on said plate and locked in position thereby, a second flat plate having downwardly extending flanges at its sides and a second separate support for said second plate having two pairs 'of crossing and folding legs pivoted at their points of intersection and with the tops of the legs of one pair connected to the corresponding tops of the legs of the second pair by side members, the legs of said second support having heels for engaging in complementary slots provided on said first plate for fixedly supporting said second support on the first plate.

HENRY HUDSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany Apr. 10, 19 13 Number Number 

